Here in Ukiah, we have a hidden gem that is life-changing for the people it serves. That jewel is the Advanced Wound Care Center where a team of physician specialists and professional staff bring their collective expertise together for our region.

Imagine you had a wound that wouldn’t close, or got infected and caused you enormous physical pain; one that prevented you from attending family functions or caused you to become isolated and depressed, giving up hope.

Many people deal with this in our region every day. People with diabetes suffer the effects of impaired blood circulation and oxygenation of tissues and vital organs. Those who’ve undergone radiation therapy may have bone deterioration, and others may be dealing with multiple complex clinical conditions.

This team of local professionals come together from Lakeport, Ukiah, and the coast to achieve amazing results. Dr. Jonathan Kreger and Dr. James O’Dorisio, co-directors of the center, recently told me that the center boasts a 95 percent heal rate for wounds, even chronic wounds that have been present for years. Last year only one of the 500 patients treated required an amputation, an incredible accomplishment.

Certified wound care nurse Margaret Carfi, RN, explained that each wound is unique and challenging. She credits much of the center’s success to how the whole team—doctors, nurses and staff—encircle each patient as though they were family.

“Whenever we get a new patient, we tell them, ‘Now you belong to us. We’ll take care of you,’” she said. And they do.

Wound center manager Laura McAndrews explained, “We don’t just take care of the hole in the patient, we take care of the whole patient.”

Laura noted that 85 percent of non-trauma amputations start as diabetic foot ulcers. After amputations, only 50 percent of patients live more than five years because patients can become wheelchair-bound, develop additional wounds which can become infected—sometimes leading to infection in the blood stream, which can be fatal.

“When we save a limb, we save a life,” Laura said.

Wound treatment can include debridement, cleaning, and dressing of wounds under the tender, watchful eye of the team. At times it can include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment many people associate with treating the “bends” in deep sea divers.

Patients who receive treatment in the hyperbaric chambers must commit to a highly structured schedule: two hours a day, five days a week for as long as it takes, which can be weeks or even months.

“It’s actually a really relaxing treatment. They just hang out and watch TV. A tech is right there if they need anything,” Erica said.

Margaret emphasized how constant follow up and case management by the team helps fragile patients stay on track and plays a critical role in achieving the great results.

“We call them to remind them of appointments. We call them if they miss an appointment. We call them to see how they’re doing after an appointment. We check in constantly. One time, one of our patients missed an appointment. When we couldn’t get in touch, we contacted the patient’s home health worker. Turns out, the patient had fallen and needed assistance,” she said.

Our wound care team collaborates with primary care doctors all over our region. Doctors refer patients with chronic wounds because wound care is such a specialized field.

Margaret explained that if a physician does not see significant signs of healing in a patient’s wound within about four weeks, “something’s wrong.” That’s when the physician may refer a patient for evaluation and treatment.

Once patients finish their treatment in the Wound Center, they sometimes have a hard time saying goodbye to the team that helped restore their body, and more importantly, their quality of life.

“It’s amazing that after these patients undergo so many painful procedures, upon discharge they don’t want to leave. They really do become like family,” Laura said.

Gwen Matthews is the President and CEO of Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, as part of the network of hospitals and clinics of Adventist Health.